LONDON, Ont. - Despite a strong start, the Western Mustangs women's hockey team lost to the Guelph Gryphons with a score of 5-4 on Jan. 16, at the Thompson Arena. 

Chantal Morais (Guelph, Ont.) with an assist from Ellie Seedhouse (Whitby, Ont.) started the game off strong with the Mustangs first goal after the two minute mark. 

Katie Dillon (Oshawa, Ont.), Tawn Rellinger (Colorado Springs, CO.) and Seedhouse each contributed shorthanded goals to Western's early lead. 

A fifth goal for the Mustangs midway through the first period was called off setting the Mustangs back to four. 

Goaltender Jessica Ulrich (Keswick, Ont.) allowed only one goal in the first frame on power play by Guelph's Jody Hogins. 

The goaltender substitution on the part of Guelph from Chelsey Roy to Danielle Skoufranis along with the strong play of the Gyphons defence proved to be too much for the Mustangs offence in the second frame as they had four unsuccessful shots on goal. 

After a promising start to the game the Mustangs defence began to falter near the end of the second period allowing Guelph's Jessica Zerefa to score off of an assist from Erin Small. 

As the third period began the Gryphon's momentum continued to increase as Ulrich let in an unassisted goal by Dayna Kanis. 

Gryphon Tamara Bell's goal midway through the period tied the game at 4-4. With minutes remaining on the clock Tori Woods, with an assist from Small and Carla D'Angelo, deked Ulrich to net the game winning goal. 

The loss was disappointing for the Mustangs as they prepare to host the Brock Badgers on Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Thompson Arena. 

BOX SCORE
Guelph 5 Western 4
Jan 16, 2010 at Thompson Arena in London Ont. 
1st Period 
1.Western, Morais 11 (Seedhouse), 2:25. 
2. Western, Dillon 6 4:36 (sh). 
3. Guelph, Hodgins 1 (Woods, Small), 13:13 (pp). 
4. Western, Seedhouse 13 16:25 (sh). 
5. Western, Rellinger 4 19:53. 
Penalties-Buck Uwo (body checking), 3:57; Johnston Uwo (holding opp. stick), 8:46; Welten Uwo (tripping), 13:08; Karapalidis Uwo (body checking), 15:00; Corbett Gue (hooking), 17:46; Van Vlack Gue (body checking), 17:46. 
2nd Period 
6. Guelph, Zerafa 8 (Small), 18:27. 
Penalties- Lanzarotta Gue (body checking), 0:53; Harada Uwo (cross checking), 19:54. 
3rd Period 
7. Guelph, Kanis 6 5:04. 
8. Guelph, Bell 10 (Kanis, Lanzarotta), 11:10. 
9. Guelph, Woods 8 (Small, D'Angelo), 14:57. 
Penalties-Gidomski Uwo (tripping), 16:07; Small Gue (roughing), 17:20; Karapalidis Uwo (roughing), 17:20. 
Goals 1 2 3 T 
Western 4 0 0 4 
Guelph 1 1 3 5 
Shots on Goal 
Western 11-4-2-17 
Guelph 14-10-17-41 
Power Play Guelph 1 of 6, Western 0 of 3. 
Goalies-Guelph, Roy 6-3-2 (11 shots-7 saves); Skoufranis 4-3-1 (6 shots-6 saves). 
Western, Ulrich 6-8-0 (41 shots-36 saves).